Griffith Observatory: A Celebration of its Architectural Splendor

A Philanthropist's and a photographer's dream. On May 14,1935, the dream of Welsh-born industrialist Colonel Griffith J. Griffith to build an observatory on Mount Hollywood came to fruition. The original funding for the Observatory came from Col. Griffith, who in 1896 donated the land now know as Griffith Park to the people of Los Angeles.
The Observatory was designed in the Art Deco style by British-born architect John C. Austin, with interior decorations by celebrated muralists Hugo Ballin and Anthony Heinsbergen.
In 2002, the Observatory closed for extensive restoration and reopened its doors in 2006, bringing the building back to its original grandeur.
The Observatory has become a favorite destination among starstruck Angelenos and visitors alike who wish to discover the hidden treasures of the galaxy. Here the celestial wonders of the universe are magically unveiled within the Observatory's triple-domed shell.
This book is dedicated to the vision and philanthropy of Col. Griffith, and to the talents of architect John Austin and his fellow artisans, for creating this architectural gem.
Meticulously Photographed by Arnold Schwartzman, the author's passion for the subject is lovingly reflected in this, his third, photographic essay on the subject of Art Deco architecture.